Intel Core i7-660LM

The Intel Core i7-660LM is a fast middle class low voltage dual core CPU for laptops and clocks (due to the Turbo Mode) from 2.27 to 3.07 GHz. Each core is based on the Nehalem (Westmere) micro-architecture. Hyperthreading enables the Dual Core CPU to handle 4 threads at once (for a better usage of the pipeline).  All features (like Virtualization VT-x and VT-d, Trusted Execution) of the Arrandale core are activated in the 660LM. Compared to the Core i7-620M, the 660LM is slower but more power efficient.

A feature of the new Core i7-660LM is the integrated graphics card (called Intel HD Graphics) and memory controller. Both are on a separate die that is still manufactured in 45nm whereas the CPU die is already manufactured in the new 32nm process.

Due to the integrated memory controller, the HyperThreading and Turbo Boost, the  Core i7-660LM is faster than a similar clocked Core 2 Duo in all (us known) applications and benchmarks. The performance should be somewhere on the level of the Core i3-380M and i5-450M. Beware, that some designs may not feature the Turbo Boost or due to small cooling solutions, the TurboBoost may not trigger very often. Therefore, the performance could be worse.

The 32nm cpu cores of the Westmere generation can also process some new instructions to accelerate AES encryptions. Modern applications that support AES encoding can profit significantly using the new instructions (e.g. the Communications Suite test in the PCMark Vantage boosts up to 70% using AES in the faster Core i5-520M).

The integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD (GMA HD) graphics card is between 266-566 MHz (Turbo Boost) and therefore the base speed is clearly below the non low voltage versions. The performance should still be a lot faster than the old GMA 4500MHD.

The power consumption of 25 Watt TDP (max.) counts for the whole package and therefore it is clearly better than the 25 Watt TDP of the Core 2 Duo P-series (CPU alone).